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As parents, we do a fair amount of shopping for our kids, always in search of a good bargain for ever-growing bodies. Personally, I love hitting children's consignment shops and thrift stores. Besides being a great way to find inexpensive clothes and baby gear, it's fun to stumble across unique items you would never see at a big chain store. Consignment shops are also excellent spots for buying staples like bed rails that you use for a little while and then need to pass on.

Unfortunately, due to listservs like FreeCycle and Craigslist, there aren't as many children's resale shops in New York City as there used to be. But we found a half-dozen secondhand stores where you can buy (or sell!) kids' clothing, gear and even toys.

Lunar New Year (often called Chinese New Year, though many different Asian nations celebrate it) is one of our favorite times in New York City. The Year of the Sheep (or Goat or Ram, depending on who you talk to) officially begins on Thursday, February 19, right in the middle of midwinter break, but celebrations take place throughout the entire month, with many different traditions represented.

NYC public school students have a week off from Monday, February 16 (a.k.a. Presidents Day) through Friday, February, 20. While many families go on vacation over the holidays and during spring break, midwinter recess always seems to be the black-sheep break: It sneaks up on you and you have no idea how to handle it once it arrives.

If you're able to take the days off and spend quality time with the kids enjoying winter in NYC or a fun seasonal day trip, that's great. But for many working parents, February break is a logistical nightmare. Your choices are hire a sitter, bring the kids to the office or find a midwinter break camp.

While there are a slew of enriching midwinter programs in New York City, many of them are quite pricey. So instead of listing every camp under the sun (make that snow), we're rounding up more budget-friendly options. We found 10 camps that offer full-day coverage for well under $100 a day where kids can play, dance, try chess, swim, go on field trips and enjoy other enriching activities. Book ASAP! These inexpensive programs are already selling out.

With no end to the cold in sight, going to the movies is very tempting, but the big-budget family film options... not so much. They're expensive (especially those 3D releases), and winter is the traditional dumping ground for duds. Luckily, you don't have to resort to the regular box office choices in New York City. The upcoming BAMkids Film Festival and New York International Children's Film Festival showcase international and offbeat shorts and features, while Film Forum Jr. screens cool classics every Sunday morning. Plus, the ticket prices are a lot less—most are under $15 per person.

Here are ten cinema series where you and your kids can rediscover the magic of movies. Don't forget to check out our post about where to see free and cheap kids' movies, too.

Winter can pose a challenge for New York City parents. We want to keep enjoying enriching activities with our kids, but one look at the temperature and everyone starts thinking about hibernating. While there are certainly many fun projects you can do at home as a family, you can't stay cooped up in your tiny apartment all season long. Thankfully, you live in NYC, where lots of indoor adventures are just a subway ride away. To inspire you, we've complied a list of 50 awesome drop-in spots in all five boroughs where kids of all ages (and adults!) can run, jump, bounce, learn, create and get cultured, all while staying warm. Some are even FREE. You can find even more inside fun in our Indoor Activity Guide.

New York City public schools are closed Presidents Day week for midwinter break, and a lot of kids (like ours) are already counting down the days. You could take a mini-vacation, or do a day trip to a nearby ski resort, snow tubing spot or indoor water park. There's just one problem: While the kids get a break, many grown-ups still have to work.

Luckily, lots of NYC spots offer February break camps where kids can pursue all kinds of interests, from athletics to arts to academics. Some programs offer full coverage throughout the week; others are only a few hours a day in case you just want to get the kids out of the house for a bit. And while some of these camps are expensive, we've included lower-priced programs that sound like great deals. One is even free!

Whether your kids can make it 'til midnight or not, there are lots of fun ways to celebrate New Year's Eve in NYC with the entire family. We've rounded up some of the most promising options for ringing in 2015 family style, from FREE bike rides and fireworks, to swanky (and admittedly expensive) Times Square parties. We've even got the scoop on Coney Island's first-ever all-ages NYE fete on the boardwalk.

However you welcome the New Year, we hope it's a blast! You can find even more seasonal fun in our Holiday Guide.

So here's our gift to you to make the season even more festive: A list of the top 35 things to do with kids in New York City over holiday break, which runs from Wednesday, December 24 through Sunday, January 4. Some of our picks only take place on specific dates while others run the entire time, but all are great ways to celebrate the season with your family. Be sure to click the links for all the details, including locations, dates and prices.